kipwinger

We need a second line center. They've got a Jumbo one.

Haven't we been better without Datsyuk than with him? Not exactly the picture of consistency in that respect.

Careful. You know how that kind of talk is responded to around here.

I'm putting this here because I didn't want to start another thread. But did anybody else see Jim Nill absolutely fleece Doug Wilson on that Brendan Dillon for Jason Demers trade? Apparently if you've got a half assed hockey player, but he's bigger than 6'3 and 220 lbs. you should call the Sharks. Think they'd take Kindl lol?

That's definitely a theory that I've thought about, but the problem I have with what I'll call the "transition argument" is this...all those guys are playing great. The fourth line is playing awesome, the kids (other than Jurco) are playing very well, the prime guys have been good (minus Helm), and the vets are all playing well. Literally everybody on the team aside from Jurco, Helm, Lashoff, and Kindl are playing great hockey. And we don't really rely on any of those four to win games anyway. That's what's so irritating about all this for me. Everybody is playing pretty well. We've got a good offense, defense, goaltending, and special teams. And yet we can't string together wins. I just don't get it. Edit: The only thing that I can think of is that the absence of a second line center has forced Babs to mix and match lines constantly. Which hurts consistency since lines never have a chance to establish any game to game chemistry. Problem with this theory is that Babs would juggle lines every game whether we have a second line center or not, so why is it so much worse now than every other time he's mixed things up for the hell of it?

Why do you suppose that is?

Haha, I actually think Franzen has been excellent this season. So this is no knock on him. But I'll trade a second line winger for a top line center any day of the week. As would, hopefully, every other person in the hockey world.

Whatever guys, that's a great idea, we should be learning from them. I'm just going to throw it out there right now...Anybody want to trade their #1 center for Johan Franzen? Because if you play your cards right, I just might be willing to make that happen for you. Whaddya say?

Man I'd like to see a little bit more consistency out of this team. Like a good four game win streak would do my heart good. We've got a skilled team, and some guys are playing really well, but damn if they can't do it every night.

Because what's a good conspiracy theory without an evil genius? If Mr. McMahon...er...Bettman isn't in the house then the marks won't really believe Stone Cold Steve Austin is in peril of being thrown out of the Royal Rumble.

Just sour grapes. He didn't kick at anyone, and he celebrated like he usually does, which of course is offensive to Toronto fans' sensibilities unless Phil Kessel does it. f*** those whiners.

Lol. So it's safe to say you're incensed just because?

We are third in opportunities, and we don't suck on the PP. You need to get up to speed, we've been really good on the PP for about 10 games now.

Aren't we third in the league in power play opportunities? Why are you complaining?

That was one hell of a pass by XO. Atta boy kid.

Goals by Weiss and Mantha so far for the Griffs tonight.

Reread my post. I was talking about the playoffs. When none of those guys you mentioned ever fought. That was the whole point. People don't fight in the playoffs and it's still an intense, physical, game.

That's true, but it takes a lifetime of being a miserable prick to leave a phone message like that. This dude was not an "entitlement generationer". He was a middle aged dude that ought to know better than to behave like a bawl baby. Reminds me of this guy. Who coincidentally is also Canadian lol.

Before I make the following statement here's my disclaimer: I am not saying Dan Cleary contributed to scoring. I am saying that it seems like Cleary's presence allows Babs the flexibility to put guys together who CAN score. Cleary has played five games. The Wings won 3 and lost 2. BUT in those five games they scored 3,4,3,5 and 4 goals. This coming from a team who couldn't score more than two for the first 10 or so games. Maybe something else is causing it. Maybe it's better line combos. Maybe it's a statistical anomaly. I don't know. But we're scoring goals right now with him in the lineup. I wouldn't change anything until the opposite is true.

Hahahahahaha. How do you become that miserable of a f***? Seriously. Absolutely nothing on earth could make me throw a s*** fit tantrum like that. Nothing. Let alone a weather report. Sad thing is, I've actually met people who are on the way to this. "Morning Bill"...."What's so good about it?"..."Alright, then go f*** yourself Bill".

How do teams respond to dirty hits in the playoffs? They don't. And nothing bad happens as a result. The Wings have made the playoffs for 23 straight years. We never fight in the regular season, let alone playoffs. Surely somewhere in those 23 playoff appearances a few of our guys got hit questionably. At which point we didn't respond. And nothing else happened. Nobody's career was ended. Our team didn't fail to have success. None of our guy opted to hit someone with a stick instead of a fist. Nothing happened at all. Well, except we did a ton of winning.

We already have a model for what intense, physical, fast, aggressive, win at all costs hockey looks like. It's called the playoffs. And they rarely fight.

Snow rules dude. I miss it so bad. Everybody in Michigan ******* about the snow, but I honestly dont' know what they'd do without it. Snow makes Northerners tough. You've got to be tough when the world is dead for half a year. And we thrive on that. You'd go absolutely crazy if you had to listen to these Southerners whine about a 50 degree night in dixie. All of the best things happen when it's cold. Hockey, hunting season, dark beer, flannel, snowmobiles, ice fishing, and heavy set girls. What's to like about warmer climates? Flip flops and Jimmy Buffet? Ewww. No thanks.

It's already happening. The salary cap and the influx of European players was the death knell of fighting in hockey. It's just taking a while for it to work its way out. More than fines, suspensions, etc., the thing most necessary to get rid of fighting in hockey was a change in the "fighting culture". By which I mean, a change in attitude away from fighting from the people that are in a position to do something about it. The salary cap and Euros already have accomplished that. More and more first rate players aren't fighting because they're European, and beyond that, they can't be goaded into fighting either. Add to that the fact that because there's a salary cap each dollar and roster spot is more valuable than ever so GM's and coaches aren't willing to give a spot (or a paycheck) to a fighter who has fewer opportunities to fight, and generally a smaller skill set. If you're like me, and you want fighting gone, just wait a while. It's an inevitability. Nothing else needs to be done to make it happen.

There's got to be something to it. When I went to Central I thought that my buddies and I could drink, and we really could drink...a lot. But then I visited some friends at Michigan Tech. Jesus Christ. It's really hard to explain the kind of drinking they do. It's like nothing I've ever seen. Natty Ice might as well be water up there. So I strongly believe that the colder it is, and the more isolated it is, the harder people drink. Which is why everbody in DC drinks for s***.